Pratt out in front of pack
Article content
Approximately 40 people braved cloudy, overcast skies and a sprinkle of rain to participate in the Great Ride ‘n’ Stride Sunday afternoon at the Tillsonburg Community Centre.
Running, walking or riding their way across town, participants helped raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society.
“Most participants today walk - it’s a three-kilometer route around Lake Lisgar,” said Melissa Boesterd, president of the Tillsonburg branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. “Our numbers are slowly increasing from year to year, which is great to see. We always have returning teams and this year a new team joined the ranks.”
Participating in the fundraising event were families, individuals and teams.
“This is our second year doing the event. We have nine team members out today,” said Lee-Ann Tupper of Coward Pharmacy. “It’s for a good cause and we thought it would be a great way to get the store involved in the community and doing something.”
Mount Elgin United Church was taking part in the Great Ride n’ Stride for the first time and wanted to show its support for the community as well, and help raise money in the fight against cancer.
“We wanted to take part. Cancer has touched all of us and a large number in our congregation, so it was something we could do to help,” said Rev. Lynne Allin, minister at Mount Elgin United. “We just thought it’d be fun to get together and make ourselves a team.
“It’s something we enjoy and it’s a chance for us to get out and give back to the community.”
As part of the event, to add a fun, competitive edge, trophies were handed out afterwards for the top family, top individual and top team fundraisers.
“After the event is completed everybody comes back to the community centre, we have light refreshments and do a trophy presentation,” explained Boesterd.
The annual Great Ride n’ Stride has been a part of the Tillsonburg community for many years, said Boesterd, and continues to play an important role in the fight against cancer every spring.
“Every family has been touched by cancer on a personal level,” said Boesterd. “It’s because of our participants and volunteers that the Canadian Cancer Society has more impact against more cancers in more communities - more than any other cancer charity in Canada.”
This year, the Great Ride n’ Stride event raised a grand total of $10,398. Category winners were as follows: Top Community Group – Mt. Elgin United Church - $790; Top Family Team - Ormerod Family - $2,020; Top Individual - Bill Pratt - $3,215; Top Business Team - Cowards Pharmacy - $1,675.